Cecil Taylor really passed away. I thought he was immortal. Certainly he is one of thee most fiery and iconoclastic in the African-American/world/universal art firmament, and I bow deeply to him - to his amazing and ferociously uncompromising vision. I, for one, cannot imagine Cecil Taylor - whom I did not know personally - resting, so I say now, Cecil Taylor: Restless In Peace, as you were on Earth, ever shifting, growing, innovating, confounding, EXPLODING...
And I want to mention something: Back in the mid-70s, there was a jazz festival on the lawn of the White House. You heard me! It took place over a whole weekend during Jimmy Carter's presidency and was simulcast all over the country in real time on dozens of radio stations. I remember hearing an afternoon jam with Dexter Gordon, Chick Corea, Tony Williams, Ron Carter.... Charles Mingus attended in his wheelchair, I believe, with Joni Mitchell, and President Carter shook their hands. My brother and I listened for hours, and believe it or not, one of the performers was Cecil Taylor, solo piano. At the end of Cecil's performance (look this up, people, if you do not believe me) then-president Carter leapt out of his seat to shake Cecil Taylor's hand, later stating that this performance was his favorite of the entire weekend!! How amazing is this memory?? It has amazed me all these many years since then, but in light of today's disgusting, racist, anti-cultural, anti-EVERYTHING I love Administration, it is certainly worth remembering, pondering, appreciating, savoring. That really happened on the White House lawn! And nowadays?.... Jimmy Carter is, in his early 90s, currently in the news as he shills for his new book (the ONLY president to have ever published a novel, not to mention poetry and many memoirs/non-fiction works). Cecil is gone. So many are gone. Our porcine leaders have no ears to hear Cecil Taylor, nor anyone who does not agree with their sick, out-dated, and often hateful agendas. In the name of Cecil Taylor, who inspires me and thousands if not millions of others, I implore you to LISTEN - please listen, that you may someday understand.
For those of you not familiar with his work, this is a great album to start with.
Into the Hot (1962) (from Wiki; Into the Hot is an album released under the auspices of Gil Evans featuring a large ensemble under the direction of John Carisi and the Cecil Taylor Unit. The album was released on the Impulse! label in 1961.)
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Nels Cline on Cecil Taylor:
Nels Cline on Cecil Taylor:
Cecil Taylor really passed away. I thought he was immortal. Certainly he is one of thee most fiery and iconoclastic in the African-American/world/universal art firmament, and I bow deeply to him - to his amazing and ferociously uncompromising vision. I, for one, cannot imagine Cecil Taylor - whom I did not know personally - resting, so I say now, Cecil Taylor: Restless In Peace, as you were on Earth, ever shifting, growing, innovating, confounding, EXPLODING...
And I want to mention something: Back in the mid-70s, there was a jazz festival on the lawn of the White House. You heard me! It took place over a whole weekend during Jimmy Carter's presidency and was simulcast all over the country in real time on dozens of radio stations. I remember hearing an afternoon jam with Dexter Gordon, Chick Corea, Tony Williams, Ron Carter.... Charles Mingus attended in his wheelchair, I believe, with Joni Mitchell, and President Carter shook their hands. My brother and I listened for hours, and believe it or not, one of the performers was Cecil Taylor, solo piano. At the end of Cecil's performance (look this up, people, if you do not believe me) then-president Carter leapt out of his seat to shake Cecil Taylor's hand, later stating that this performance was his favorite of the entire weekend!! How amazing is this memory?? It has amazed me all these many years since then, but in light of today's disgusting, racist, anti-cultural, anti-EVERYTHING I love Administration, it is certainly worth remembering, pondering, appreciating, savoring. That really happened on the White House lawn! And nowadays?.... Jimmy Carter is, in his early 90s, currently in the news as he shills for his new book (the ONLY president to have ever published a novel, not to mention poetry and many memoirs/non-fiction works). Cecil is gone. So many are gone. Our porcine leaders have no ears to hear Cecil Taylor, nor anyone who does not agree with their sick, out-dated, and often hateful agendas. In the name of Cecil Taylor, who inspires me and thousands if not millions of others, I implore you to LISTEN - please listen, that you may someday understand.
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RIP to a true legend!!!
RIP to a true legend!!!
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For those of you not familiar
For those of you not familiar with his work, this is a great album to start with.
Into the Hot (1962) (from Wiki; Into the Hot is an album released under the auspices of Gil Evans featuring a large ensemble under the direction of John Carisi and the Cecil Taylor Unit. The album was released on the Impulse! label in 1961.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgAgQYOoCiY&feature=youtu.be
The Cecil Taylor Quintet/Septet
Cecil Taylor: piano
Jimmy Lyons: alto saxophone
Archie Shepp: tenor saxophone
Henry Grimes: bass
Sunny Murray: drums
Ted Curson: trumpet ("Mixed")
Roswell Rudd: trombone ("Mixed")
Here's 3 songs from the album
1) "Pots" 00:00
2) "Bulbs" 05:49
3) "Mixed" 12:44
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Saw Cecil do a duet show with
Saw Cecil do a duet show with Max Roach and it was incredible - two legends!